We hope this message finds you well. We are writing with some information we think might be helpful as orientation approaches. Please see the orientation 2020 web page for previous messages as well as upcoming events.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
As the beginning of your first semester of law school draws near, we wanted to reach out to all incoming part-time students and invite you to join a webinar created specifically for you. We know that balancing your work and personal commitments along with law school can be daunting and we are eager to support you.
Next Wednesday, August 5 at 12pm we will host a workshop entitled Beginning Your Academic Excellence Journey consisting of a panel with upper-level students. We hope to answer as many of your questions as possible. Here is the link to join.
Later that evening, at 7 p.m. we will host a special workshop entitled Strategies for Part-Time Students specifically geared towards supporting you. Here is the link to join.
Both workshops will be recorded and you can find previous recordings of the summer conversation series on the orientation 2020 website. You should not need a password, but if prompted, it is gwlaw.
These events are sponsored by the GW Law Office of Academic Excellence who assists all students in their pursuit of strong academic performance and potential. You can contact Andrew Realon who heads up the program at arealon
law [dot] gwu [dot] edu. If you are interested in scheduling a virtual meet-and-greet with him, you may do so here.
STUDENT LIFE
Although GW has transitioned to an online environment for the fall, we are still planning small, in-person gatherings for those in the D.C. area as well as virtual opportunities to engage your classmates. The SBA and other student organizations are planning activities ranging from walking tours of D.C. monuments to virtual yoga classes. Current students have been planning these small events and a full schedule and sign-ups are forthcoming.
SBA Student Mentor Program – The Student Bar Association (SBA) has recruited second and third-years students eager to impart wisdom about navigating the law school. If you would like to be paired with an SBA mentor, please complete this form. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with seasoned members of the community.
Student Organizations – GW Law has a vibrant and active student organization community and they plan to remain active, even in a virtual environment. If you are interested in getting more information from any of these organizations, please complete this form as the student leaders are eager to connect with you.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Academic Calendar – The 2020-21 academic calendar for the law school can be found here. You might have received a message from the University Provost regarding updates to the academic calendar. That message relates to the undergraduate calendar. The law school calendar remains unchanged.
Inns of Court – Each 1L is assigned to one of six Inns of Court, named after former Supreme Court Justices, and take all 1L classes with their Inn. Their Inn remains their community for the next few years. You will receive your Inn assignment by Friday, August 7, 2020. Once assigned, you will also know your course schedule, corresponding professors, and book lists. Except for Jay Inn (reserved for our evening students) and Brandeis Inn, students are randomly assigned to Inns.
ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY
Law School Email – If you have not done so, please claim your GW NetID and select a password. Once you do that, a university email (NetIDgwu [dot] edu) will be generated along with a law school email address (NetIDlaw [dot] gwu [dot] edu). Please claim your GW NetID no later than Tuesday, August 4 as we will begin emailing you at your @law.gwu.edu account next week. If you are having difficulty with this, please contact LawITlaw [dot] gwu [dot] edu.
Law School Zoom - In preparation for the fall semester, the law school secured access to Zoom for all students. In the coming days you will receive a Zoom account invitation to your law school email account. Please accept this invitation before Friday, August 11 to ensure you can fully participate in orientation and be ready for online instruction.
Laptop Computer Requirements – All students are expected to have a laptop computer that meets the following specifications for Exam4, the exam software used to administer exams. Specifications can be found here. For questions about this, please contact LawITlaw [dot] gwu [dot] edu.
Finally, if you haven’t submitted your resume, please do so here. We use this information to help the faculty get a better sense of the 1L class.
We look forward to your virtual arrival! Please let us know if you have any questions.
The Dean of Students Office
The George Washington University School of Law
202-994-8320
deanofstudentslaw [dot] gwu [dot] edu